Education (Early Childhood)

HB 3241, the THRIVE Act, requires Oklahoma's State Department of Education to develop a mandatory character education curriculum for all public schools and charter schools (pre-K through 12th grade) by the 2026-2027 school year. The curriculum must teach 15 specific character traits and values, including honesty, respect for family, religious faith, lifelong marriage, sexual abstinence outside marriage, and patriotism, as defined in the bill. Schools must provide parents an opt-out option for their children and use only materials approved by the Department, with districts reporting compliance to the State Board of Education annually. The bill also mandates an "honor roll" for schools successfully implementing the program and requires the Department to publish approved resources and program impacts online.

SB 848, the "Oklahoma Independent Education Act," prohibits Oklahoma public school districts and charter schools from using federal or state funds to support activities promoting sexual orientation or gender identity. It requires the state to develop a plan to phase out federal education funding (for pre-K through 12th grade) and replace it with state funds, including a timeline and funding needs analysis. The bill establishes a working group to monitor implementation, exempting it from open meeting and records laws, and mandates that schools stop using funds for the prohibited activities. This directly affects all Oklahoma public schools receiving federal education funding.